north dakota law
TRANSCRIPT
University of North DakotaUND Scholarly Commons
North Dakota Law School of Law
Spring 2015
North Dakota LawRob Carolin
Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/nd-law
Part of the Law Commons
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in NorthDakota Law by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Recommended CitationCarolin, Rob, "North Dakota Law" (2015). North Dakota Law. 4.https://commons.und.edu/nd-law/4
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T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H D A K O T A S C H O O L O F L A W
Students Lead the Way - Alumni & Friends Pledge Support- Larson Foundation Aids Rural Practice
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Last summer, with the good work (and good humor!) of our School of Law students, staff, and faculty, we successfully packed up the law school and relocated all of our operations to other parts of campus. We did this in order to facilitate the completion of our building project on a relatively short timeline—just over a year from start to finish.
We packed up everything with color-coded labels, dividing it all into long term storage, short term storage, and “need this right away” piles. We left the big things for the movers, and pushed carts across campus with the rest. We moved faculty and staff offices to five different buildings. We set up classrooms in eight different buildings.
We issued new keys, transferred phone lines, rerouted mail, addressed security issues, shuffled classrooms to meet student and instructional needs, coordinated with the university’s class schedule, set up student study spaces, located lost items, passed out campus maps, troubleshot technology, fixed furniture . . . well, you get the picture. Basically, we worked to successfully solve every single problem that arose during our relocated year.
And now, at the end of our relocated academic year, we are gearing up to do it all again.
While we’ve been maintaining all of our ordinary operations under extraordinary circumstances, our construction team has been doing the real heavy lifting to build the School of Law’s future. The construction team’s hard work, funded in critical part by several donations from our alumni and friends, has kept us on our ideal schedule
From The Dean
of displacing students for as short a time as possible—a single academic year and two summer sessions.
The new and improved School of Law is nearing completion on schedule. We are anticipating moving back into our much-missed building in August, in time for the start of the 2015-2016 academic year.
However, we still need your help in completing the funding for the project. After the state authorized private donations of up to $2.5 million toward the building project, many of our alumni and friends have come forward with much-needed and generous gifts, including several major naming gifts—some featured in this issue. These gifts have helped to transform the School of Law.
We could not have come this far without your help—the gifts we’ve received have been critical as we build for the future.
If you would like to make a donation to the Building Fund, or are interested in possible naming opportunities, please contact me directly at 701.777.2104 or [email protected] or Mark Brickson, Director of Development, at 800.543.8764 or [email protected]. You can also visit the building website at law.und.edu/build for more information.
As always, all of us at the UND School of Law thank you for your incredible support of North Dakota’s law school and our state’s legal profession. Please join us at Homecoming in October 2015 for our grand opening so we can thank you in person!
Kathryn R.L. Rand Moving to Improve
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Contents
School of Law AdministrationKathryn R.L. Rand Dean
Bradley Myers Associate Dean
Bradley Parrish Assistant Dean
Editor, Rob Carolin Director of Alumni & Public Relations
Cover Photo: North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem pictured with UND Law School legislative internship students.
Photo Right: Dean Kathryn Rand with the staff from Construction Engineers leading the building project. From left: Project Manager Nick Fiecke, Dean Kathryn Rand, Superintendent Dave Braaten, and Field Engineer Jarrod Mistic.
Vol. 8, Issue 1, June 2015
DepartmentsOpening Statement 2
On the Scene 18
Alumni Notes 20
law.UND.edu
10
Building Project Update Addition & Renovation Nearing Completion
Chief Justice VandeWalle Career of Excellence Honored
4
Focus on Students Leading the Way: Success and Service
Additional SupportMore Gifts to Support the Building Project
16
14
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Alumni and Friends Lead the Way With Major Gifts to the
Building Project
Spotlight on StudentSuccess
Students Lead The Way
In the history of the UND School of Law, the 2014-15 school
year may go down as one of the most challenging. However,
the students were up to the challenge and managed to
realize success, provide service and lead the way for others on
the UND campus. The building addition and renovation forced the law school out of its building in July of 2014, spreading students, faculty and staff across campus. For the entire academic year, students had no access to their normal classrooms, study and meeting areas as well as the library. There was no access to the Baker Courtroom to host events or practice for moot court or trial team competitions. They were separated from each other, and our older students never really had the chance to get to know our newest class members.
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Success & Service
Photo: North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem pictured with UND Law School legislative internship students.
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A Solid Foundation To Begin
The UND School of Law building project is well under way thanks to the funding provided by the State Legislature, but the school is at a historic crossroads. To timely and cost-effectively complete all of the student-centered priorities of the law school building project, in both the addition and the renovation, the School of Law needs the immediate financial support of its alumni and friends to reach $2.5 million in private giving toward the building project.
Knowing this, several alumni and friends stepped to the front of the line with lead gifts that already account for nearly half of the ultimate goal of an additional $2.5 million. We are so grateful to C. Francis Swanke, Jack Marcil, Dave and Mary Maring, the Serkland Law Firm, Melissa Burkland and her husband Dr. Grant Syverson, Judge Myron Bright and several of his former clerks, including Michael Schaffer and Rebecca Thiem, for leading the way on this important capital campaign.
With your help, we can continue to grow our program of legal education by completing the full building addition and renovation project. On the pages following you will be given a “first look” into the excitement all of us at the School of Law are experiencing with the building project. You will meet our alumni and friends named above who stepped forward with lead gifts and find out why they felt the need to give back.
You will be introduced to the many naming opportunities available to you with your generous gift, and you can see where those rooms will be as we are excited to unveil the floor plan for each level of your new and renovated School of Law. The floor plans will give you the full picture of the great things planned to enhance the student experience and educational program at UND Law. The UND Foundation has provided important information on the benefits of joining us and “putting your name” in the school. Not only will your gift have a major impact on the future of UND Law, but you can also receive personal benefits through tax advantages and long-term plans in meeting your philanthropic goal.
Finally, we give you a glimpse of the project through a special construction edition of “On the Scene.” The construction portion of the new addition is moving along quickly, so you can follow along with the activity at law.und.edu/build.
The University of North Dakota School of Law’s legacy to North Dakota is one of leadership and service guided by the highest standards of professionalism. Since 1899, the UND School of Law has been instrumental in supporting and defining North Dakota spirit, upholding the values rooted in this great state. This is your School of Law and we are excited to share with you the great things happening here on this historic occasion of building for the future. As you look through the next 16 pages, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to become involved.
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Success
Yet they found a way to adapt and continue the long tradition of success that defines the UND School of Law.
Service to the Sate: North Dakota Legislative InternshipEach year the North Dakota Legislature is in session, a select group of UND Law students are engaged in the law making process. Students gain valuable experience while providing an important service to the state by working directly with legislators and committees throughout the session.
A group of 11 second- and third-year students were selected to work as interns with the Legislative Council during the 64th Legislative Assembly.
Housing and Employment Clinic students advocated before federal and state administrative agencies for an employee who experienced sexual harassment and retaliation, advised an immigrant family on their rights under fair housing law, negotiated for the reasonable accommodation of a tenant’s physical and mental disabilities, helped a construction worker seek unpaid earnings and represented an employee who was fired in retaliation for seeking workers’ compensation.
Immigrant Rights Clinic students represented and advocated for a wide range of clients, including two detainees seeking protection from cartels in Central America, an asylum-seeker who fears persecution based on his sexual orientation, five guest workers with claims of involuntary servitude
The interns provide critical support to legislators as they are assigned to work with various legislative committees on legislative issues, including drafting legislation and statutory interpretation.
UND Law Clinic Students
In completing their coursework during the 2014-15 school year, the UND Law Clinic students provided pro bono legal assistance to clients who otherwise would not have been represented by an attorney, contributing over $12,500 in free legal services to the community. Students in both clinics enhanced their legal research, professional writing and ethical decision-making abilities, while practicing fundamental client-relations skills, such as interviewing, client counseling and working with interpreters.
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Success & ServicePhoto: UND Law Clinic students in 2014-15 provided pro bono legal assistance to clients who would otherwise not have been represented by an attorney.
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Photo: Conor Kennelly and Nick Christensen placed second at Wechsler Criminal Law Moot Court Competition in Buffalo, New York.
and witness tampering against an abusive employer and a refugee whose green card has been pending for years.
Professor Margaret Jackson (Housing and Employment) and Professor Sabrina Balgamwalla (Immigrant Rights Clinic) supervise the UND Law Clinic students.
Moot Court and Trial Team Success
For what is believed to be the first time in the history of the School of Law’s Corliss Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, (PAD) four students competed in PAD’s annual mock trial competition in Washington, D.C.
Competing against other law schools’ teams composed of students from all class years, UND Law’s team of first-year students
Erin Ferry, Patricia Castro, Ashley Hinds, and Mikayla Reis represented the School of Law with distinction. The team, coached by December 2014 graduate Sharon Lo, conducted three trials—one as plaintiff, one as defendant, and a third case with the client selected at random. The case involved both a First Amendment issue as well as a contributory negligence defense.
The Corliss Chapter’s team placed fifth, narrowly missing the final rounds by only a few points. “The team was awarded Most Outstanding Prosecution, and a veteran judge who has been involved in the competition since its inception said our team was the best mock trial team he had ever seen,” said President Austin Lafferty.
The Moot Court team also realized a successful series of external competitions. Moot Court advisor, Professor Kirsten Dauphinais said, “This year marks the team’s best performance in memory. We not only captured our first best brief award in a national competition, we had an unprecedented number of competitors proceed to advanced rounds in competition, including two duos taking second place finishes!”
The team of second-year students Ariana Meyers and Rujeko Muza made it all the way to the finals of the West Virginia University National Energy Law Moot Court Competition and finished as runner up. This is the second year in a row a UND Law Moot Court team to second place in this competition. The other UND team of third-year students Anders Odegaard and Thaddeus Swanson also distinguished themselves, making it to quarterfinals. UND Law alumna Kiara Kraus-Parr coached both teams.
At the Wechsler Criminal Law Moot Court Competition in Buffalo, New York, the UND Law team of Conor Kennelly and Nick Christensen also placed second in their national competition, losing in the finals by only three points. UND Law alumnus and coach Sam Gereszek noted this fine performance marks the first time in at least a decade a UND team has captured best brief at a competition and marks only the second time UND has taken second place at the Wechsler competition. Students Matthew Dearth and Jordan Selinger also participated in the competition.
Third-year students Kendra Olson and Jesse Maier were Best
“I am extraordinarily proud of this team and its alumni coaches...The future for appellate advocacy
looks bright at UND Law.”
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Photo: Student Bar Association students present a check to the Sunshine Foundation
Brief Runner-Up and advanced to the Elite Eight in the National Cultural Heritage Law Moot Court Competition held at DePaul University in Chicago. Four students, Jesse Powell, Sarah Scholler, Zachary Eiken and Evan Nelson, participated at the GW National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
“I am extraordinarily proud of this team and its alumni coaches, but I am also excited about the team we have coming up for next year,” said Dauphinais. “The future for appellate advocacy looks bright at UND Law.”
Student Philanthropy
The Student Bar Association raised funds and presented a check to the Sunshine Memorial Foundation in March.
The Sunshine Foundation is a North Dakota non-profit that was established by Van and Dee Larson in memory and in honor of their daughter, Shannon “Sunshine” Larson, who passed away in 2007, at the age of 31, from heat stroke while she was hiking in Arizona. The purpose of the foundation is to raise money for charitable programs promoting Shannon’s attitude of helping others.
Funds were raised through a sale of UND Law T-shirts held this spring.
In September, PAD raised $2,000 for the Walk MS event and had teams participating in both the Grand Forks and Fargo walks. In addition, the organization collected donations for the Circle of Friends Humane Society in their annual fall drive.
Student Organizations Receive Recognition
Several of the UND Law student organizations were recognized for their success and leadership on the UND campus.
The Law Women’s Caucus, the Black Law Student Association and PAD were honored at the UND Memorial Union Leadership awards as outstanding student organizations.
In addition the Corliss Chapter has been recognized on a regional and national level with several awards. In Spring 2014, they were named the Most Improved PAD Chapter in District 10, which includes North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and parts of Canada.
Photos: Second- year students Ariana Meyers (top) and Rujeko Muza placed second at the West Virginia University National Energy Law Moot Court Competition
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The Native American Congressional Internship Program provides American Indian and Alaska Native students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal legislative process in order to understand first-hand the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the federal government.
Lee Edward Brockington
Second-year student Lee Edward Brockington was selected as one of three recipients of the UND Leadership Scholarship, which is awarded to students who aggressively pursue involvement in campus activities and student organizations.
“I made it a point as a 2L to become more involved and leaving a positive image at the law school and the University in terms of being an
Photos from left: UND Law students Stacie Crawford, Lee Edward Brockington and Kylie Oversen (Oversen photo by the Grand Forks Herald.)
The chapter won three awards at the 2014 Biennial Convention and National Leadership Conference including Most Improved Law Chapter in the Nation, Law School Outstanding Social Program, in recognition of the chapter’s annual Chili Cook-Off, and Lafferty was awarded second place in the Alex Hotchkiss Outstanding Law School Justice competition.
Individual Recognition and Opportunity
Stacie Crawford
Stacie Crawford was one of 12 students throughout the nation selected by the Udall Foundation for the 2015 Native American Congressional Internship.
The 12 Udall Interns will complete an intensive, 10-week internship in the summer of 2015. Special enrichment activities will provide opportunities to meet with key
decision makers. An independent review committee selected the recipients on the basis of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to careers in tribal public policy. She is currently working with Heidi Heitkamp, United States Senator from North Dakota.
Crawford is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes located in Poplar, Montana. She received her Juris Doctor and Indian Law certificate from UND in May, 2015. Upon completion of her internship, Stacie will work for her tribe as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting cases under the Violence Against Women Act.
She was previously employed as a tribal prosecutor and tribal associate judge for the Fort Peck Tribes, before leaving to attend law school in hopes of returning home. She is committed to advocating for Native people and on behalf of Native issues in Indian Country.
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underrepresented minority,” said Brockington. “I was very humbled and thankful for the award, and what it did for me is it reinforced that I was doing good work. I was doing work that people were noticing.”
Brockington, a native of Brooklyn, New York, held several leadership positions in the law school this year including serving as president of both the Public Interest Law Student Association and Black Law Student Association, as well as serving as treasurer of the Student Bar Association. He even led on a national level as the Eighth Circuit Lieutenant Governor for diversity in the American Bar Association law students division.
Brockington also has another unique opportunity this summer as he will work in an externship position with Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge Shon Hastings in Fargo, North Dakota.
Kylie Oversen
In March 2015, second-year student Kylie Oversen was elected to serve as the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chairwoman. The Killdeer, North Dakota native is one of the youngest state chairpersons of either party in the country. Oversen has served in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2012, representing District 42 in Grand Forks. When elected, she was one
of the youngest female legislators in the nation.
In 2014, Oversen was named the North Dakota Woman of the Year, by the ND Women’s Network. She was recognized for her work for women and families in the state during her time in the legislature.
Lane Thompson
When he made the decision to go to law school, Lane Thompson never would have thought that he would be able to combine his passion for mixed martial arts with the law. Thompson couldn’t have been more wrong.
In his last year of law school, an opportunity presented itself with the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC as it’s widely known. He is a passionate fan of the UFC, and the idea of working for them was very exciting. “I took a risk and decided to go for it. I sent in a video application which was followed up by phone and video conference interviews.” In the end, Thompson came out on top. He was chosen for the position out of hundreds of applicants and packed his bags for Las Vegas.
While working with the UFC, Thompson learned that there were many other facets to the law that didn’t take place in a courtroom. Thompson’s externship brought him to the office of general counsel
for the UFC. Working with five attorneys, he had an opportunity to sample many aspects of corporate law. Thompson negotiated contracts and agreements for the broadcast of UFC events, negotiated contracts for venues in the U.S. and abroad, mediated sponsorship agreements, produced numerous cease and desist orders and was able to take the lead on an overhaul of the UFC’s licensing agreements for apparel and like items.
“The work was always evolving so it was different every day. I really enjoyed that,” Thompson expressed.
Photo: Lane Thompson at the offices of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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Taking ShapeUND Law Building Project
Building Addition and Renovation Nearing Completion
The final touches on the UND School of Law building addition and renovation project are being put into place. It has been fascinating to follow the wonderful work of Construction Engineers and ICON Architectural Group as they have engineered the future of the UND School of Law.
At last printing of North Dakota Law in October, the project was still in its early stages with completion of the demolition of the north wall and stairway in the library building. During Homecoming 2014, the Law School officially dedicated and celebrated the building project with a brick-laying ceremony attended by Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley, Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle and North Dakota Senator Ray Holmberg.
At the ceremony, Wrigley said, “It’s a glorious time for North Dakota. There’s a lot of excitement and growth here on our campuses. We have a law school, it’s North Dakota’s law school, and we couldn’t be more proud.”
In October, the deconstruction of the north wall and stairwell of the library was complete. The finalization of the footings of the addition led to the construction of the new elevator shaft with concrete block and the structural steel framework of the addition began to take shape. An unusually nice winter compared to North Dakota standards allowed the project to continue on its rapid pace. The final steel beam of the UND School of Law building addition was lifted into place on November 6, 2014 at a special Topping Off ceremony on the
Law School building construction site.
“The Topping Off ceremony is significant to mark a milestone of the project and also to turn the page to the next phase of construction,” said Mike Abel, on-site project manager for Construction Engineers. Celebrating the placement of the last beam is a tradition that dates back to ancient Scandinavian times and includes some ceremonial traditions. For example, it is tradition to place a tree on top of the beam to honor the spirit of the wood that contributed to the building. Another tradition involves providing an opportunity for those
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“This building project will change the face of legal education in North Dakota and will ensure the
future success of the School of Law.”
who have worked on the project to sign the beam before it is lifted into place. UND Law students, faculty and staff were invited to put their names along side the construction workers on the top-most beam prior to it being lifted into place.
“We wanted to get the law school community involved to let them put their mark on this project—literally put their mark on this project,” said Abel.
Securing the final beam lead to the construction of the new library stairwell in the northeast corner of the addition, framing of the exterior walls of the addition and to the beginning of the construction of the addition’s roof. Meanwhile, as the addition was starting to take shape outside, inside the law library and the original 1922 law building renovations were well on their way.
Deconstruction of the existing spaces had mostly been completed and interior renovations had already transformed the floor plan throughout the existing buildings. New students spaces, a fully remodeled law clinic, new student organization space, student life spaces and the transition of two lower level rooms into a new flexible classroom are some of the renovation highlights in the 1922 building.
On the library side, renovation included the creation of specific office spaces for the North Dakota Law Review, Moot Court Board and the Student Bar Association on the second floor as well as a new
service area to serve students and the public on the first floor. New study spaces were created and a bathroom was added to every level of the library. The renovation plans also included cutting in several new windows on the east wall of the library building adding much-needed natural light to the newly renovated student spaces.
In January, workers began closing up the exterior walls from the ground level to the addition’s roof. As each floor was closed in, it allowed them to heat the area and pour the concrete floors for
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Follow the progress - October 2014
March 2015
November 2014
February 2015
each level of the addition. After the floor was set, they started framing out the rooms as they moved up each level. Soon the new teaching courtroom in the addition took shape as they poured the jury box and judges bench area. In February, the final section of roof for the addition was raised and set in place.
Throughout the winter months, in both the addition and renovation, the work of wiring, installing duct work, dropping sprinklers and fire alarms, framing rooms, adding sheetrock, mudding, taping and sanding was taking place. Final finishes of laying carpet and painting walls were completed in several areas of the 1922 building.
In March and April, many of the finishes on the exterior walls of the addition were completed. Beginning on the east wall of the addition, an air barrier was sprayed on the wall and the tedious but important job of carefully setting each brick to form the exterior walls began from the ground up. Framing and windows were put in place in the library so it
was starting to look complete. A special crane was brought in to lift and place seven separate sections of a new chiller on top of the library roof.
As May came to a close, several of the areas in the renovation received final finishes and were cleaned up and sealed off. Much of the ceiling structure, new lighting and tile have been put in place. New banks of lockers for the students have been set in place in areas of each level. The new elevator in the entryway of the addition was readied for installation. Final fixtures in the rest rooms were installed as well. The work in the addition is also nearing completion with finishes starting on the main level, and new furniture is scheduled for arrival.
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April 2015
January 2015December 2014
Outside, the roof of the new addition was completed with the application of the rubber barrier and new shingles. The window frames and windows on all three walls of the addition have been set in place, and work on the glass curtain wall of the new University Avenue facing entrance is nearly done.
Another milestone in the building project was realized at the end of May—the placement of the final bricks in the building addition. Two bricks remained so the masons gave Dean Kathryn Rand a quick lesson on bricklaying. Like she did with the first sledgehammer to get the project underway nearly a year
ago, Dean Rand ceremonially applied the mud and placed the final two bricks at the top of the northeast corner of the addition.
As June begins, the anticipation of nearing the completion of the addition and renovation project is beginning to grow with plans to move back in August in time for the start of the 2015-2016 academic year.
Planning has already begun for a grand opening ceremony at UND Homecoming in October 2015.
May 2015
You can see the photo sets of the entire construction process and follow along with the final finishing touches on our website at
law.UND.edu/build
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The Vogel Law Firm Fargo, North Dakota
Vogel Study Commons, Second Floor
Together with 16 individual attorneys in the firm, the Vogel Law Firm has pledged a gift totaling more than $250,000 to UND School of Law. The Vogel Law Firm gift is split between a donation to name the renovated study area on the second floor of the law library and a contribution toward the Mart Vogel Legal Ethics & Professionalism Endowment.
The Vogel Law Firm gift reflects the firm’s status as the largest law firm in North Dakota, with nearly 50 attorneys and offices in Fargo, Bismarck, Moorhead, Minneapolis, and Williston. The firm traces its roots back to 1880. The Vogel family became associated with the firm in the late 1920s, and expanded the firm’s practice over the decades.
Members of the firm have a long history of public service, as well as a long history of supporting the School of Law. Adjacent to the Law Review Office and the Maring Moot Court Office, the Vogel Law Firm Study Commons will be a place where students gather to study and collaborate.
Making a Difference in the Building Project
UND School of Law alumni and friends continue to join in the excitement of the first major building project for the school in 40 years with their generous support.
After the state authorized private donations of up to $2.5 million toward the building project, many of our alumni and friends—like the Vogel Law Firm, Anne and Jason Spaeth, and the Sogard Family—have come forward with much-needed and generous gifts. These gifts have helped to transform the School of Law.
We could not have come this far without your help—the gifts we have received have been critical as we build for the future. Additional naming opportunities still exist so the School of Law needs your help in completing the funding for the project!
If you would like to make a donation to the Building Fund, or are interested in possible naming opportunities, please contact either Dean Kathryn Rand at 701.777.2104, [email protected] or Mark Brickson, Director of Development, at 800.543.8764, [email protected]. You can also visit the building website at law.und.edu/build for more information.
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Anne and Jason Spaeth pledged their gift to the School of Law’s building project to honor a faculty member who inspired Anne—Professor Candace Zierdt. Professor Zierdt specialized in juvenile and family law,
igniting Anne’s passion as a law student for child advocacy and child protection. As an attorney in Minnesota, Anne now works in the area of child abuse prevention and advocating on behalf of vulnerable children. Currently she is working to implement the Infant Team pilot project serving children ages 0-5 in the Hennepin County child protection system.
Anne and Jason’s gift will name Professor Zierdt’s original office, in the renovated area of the Law School, in her honor. Professor Zierdt, now teaching at Stetson University College of Law, said, “This is the sort of thing that truly makes a professor feel like her work is appreciated—when a student or former student recognizes it.”
Patrick and Tamara Sogard Class of 1986
Sogard Family Faculty Office
Patrick and Tamara Sogard also felt a connection to the
faculty who shaped their education at UND, choosing to make a gift to name a faculty office at the School of Law. Pat is a 1986 graduate of the School of Law and a 1982 UND graduate in Engineering, and Tammy is a 1987 UND graduate in the College of Business and Public Administration. Both serve on the Board of Directors for American State Bank, Pat as Chairman of the Board.
Outside the Sogard Family Faculty Office, a plaque will read, “In honor of the faculty who taught the Class of 1986 – Sogard Family.”
Anne and Jason Spaeth Class of 1998
Candace Zierdt Faculty Office
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The North Dakota Rough Rider Award
At a joint session of the 64th Legislative Assembly in January, Gov. Jack Dalrymple named VandeWalle the 41st recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the state’s highest commendation for its citizens.
“When you think about visionary leaders having a significant impact on our state, Justice VandeWalle stands out among the rest,” Dalrymple said. “Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in strengthening North Dakota’s judicial system and enhancing the safety and quality of life for our communities.”
The award recognizes present and former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North
Dakota and its citizens. Justice VandeWalle has served on the North Dakota Supreme Court for more than 36 years and was recently re-elected to his fourth 10-year term. He has served as the court’s Chief Justice for the past 21 years, making him the longest-serving Chief Justice in North Dakota history and the longest-serving of all sitting Chief Justices across the nation.
“The idea that I would ever receive the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award from the
state and people I love was never even in my wildest dreams or imagination,” VandeWalle said. “I cannot believe it is real. But if it is, I hope the focus is not on me as an individual, but rather appreciation and respect for the rule of law and our judicial system.”
University of North Dakota Honorary Degree
A second special recognition was bestowed upon VandeWalle in May at the University of North Dakota commencement ceremony. During the ceremony UND President Robert Kelley and Law School Dean Kathryn Rand presented him with a honorary Doctor of Letters.
VandeWalle was born in 1933, and raised in Noonan, North Dakota. He attended the University of North Dakota, and in 1955, received a bachelor of science degree in Commerce from the School of Business. In 1958, he received a Juris Doctor degree magna cum laude from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
“Chief Justice VandeWalle has played an instrumental role in modernizing and unifying the court system in North Dakota,” said Rand. “He has enhanced the education of our law students through his presentations and the North Dakota Supreme Court annual sessions held at the School of Law, so he is very deserving of this honorary degree.”
Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle Career of Excellence Honored
Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle’s outstanding career of service to the state of North Dakota was recently recognized with the presentation of two separate honors.
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As North Dakota’s law school, the UND School of Law is responsible for educating the next generations of attorneys who will serve our state.
With the generous support of the Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation, the School of Law will be able to provide summer grants to expand the existing Rural Justice Program. The support also allows UND Law to offer high-impact scholarships with the purposes of keeping North Dakota’s most promising students in the state for their legal education, and providing scholarship support for current law students who demonstrate a desire to practice law in the state after graduation.
The state’s booming economy brings with it significant legal needs, yet North Dakota continues to experience a lawyer shortage. “North Dakota’s most critical gaps for attorneys presently exist in rural communities, in western North Dakota, in the area of family law, and in providing legal assistance to low-income people,” said Dean Kathryn Rand. “The Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation’s support will greatly assist the UND School of Law as it continues to cultivate more competent, ethical, and practice-ready attorneys to serve the people of North Dakota in these high-need areas.”
The Larson Foundation support for the expansion of the Rural Justice Program is a critical first piece of support being put in place this summer. In some areas, the state’s lawyer shortage impedes North Dakotans’ access to justice. In 2012, there were 18 counties in North Dakota with two or fewer attorneys—and more than half of the 20 attorneys serving those counties were over 60 years old. As North Dakota’s—and the nation’s—rural areas have the most critical unmet legal needs, the School of
Law can expand the Rural Justice Program to include funding for students working for rural legal employers, thanks to the Larson Foundation’s support.
Four summer grants have been awarded through the Larson Foundation to support students working for rural legal employers. The summer placements will serve the communities of Williston, Watford City and Grafton, North Dakota.
Placements include Tyler Erickson, Nehring Law in Williston, Samantha Olson, Furuseth, Kalil, Olson & Evert, P.C., also in Williston, Nathan Svihovec, McKennett, Forsberg, Voll & Gjovig, P.C. in Watford City and Dustin Slaamod, with the Walsh County State’s Attorney in Grafton.
Each student will receive a grant of $6,000 for 400 hours of work throughout the summer. With the support of the Larson Foundation, UND Law has been able to double the placement opportunities in rural areas this summer compared to the first year of the Rural Justice Program. Patricia Hodny, Director of Career Services, is working with rural law firms to line up opportunities for students in Summer 2016. Interested attorneys should contact the Career Services Office at the law school.
The Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation was established through the estate of Edson Larson. He graduated from UND in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce. Edson served during WWII as a member of the Army Air Corps and later became a successful farmer and businessman. Edson and Margaret were married in 1955. They made their home in Mayville, North Dakota.
Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation Provides for Expansion of Rural Justice Program
Tyler Erickson Dustin SlaamodNathan SvihovecSamantha Olson
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1 Owen Anderson, ‘74, was a featured speaker at the Energy Law Symposium hosted by the North Dakota Law Review in Bismarck, N.D. in March.
2 Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity, the Bruce Inn, was first chartered at UND School of Law in 1912. They held a swearing in ceremony for 14 new members and officer elections at the Gorecki Center in April.
4 The Canadian Law Student Society hosted the second annual Cross Border Classic Hockey tournament in March featuring four teams—UND Law, UND Medicine, as well as the University of Manitoba Schools of Law and Medicine.
3 The Law School held a special retirement reception to honor long-time employee Phyllis Trelfa, pictured here with three of the four Deans she worked with while at UND Law. From left: Paul LeBel, Phyllis Trelfa, Jeremy Davis and Kathryn Rand. Phyllis filled a special role within the Law School family, and was always there to welcome visitors, lend support or give a hug when needed.
5 Affiliated faculty member and UND Law School alumnus John Foster teaching his final class in April. Foster is retiring after teaching Banking and Finance classes at the School of Law for 35 years. A special reception to honor John will be held at Homecoming 2015 in October.
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6 A special panel of judges heard the finals of the Fall Moot Court Competition. Judges included from left: The Hon. Ralph Erickson, The Hon. Charles Miller and Bruce Quick.
7 Dean Kathryn Rand pictured with third-year student Tessa Vaagen, Sharon Smith and members of the Zuger, Kirmis & Smith law firm. Vaagen received the Tom Smith Memorial Scholarship that goes to the outstanding North Dakota Legislative Internship student.
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8 The Canadian Law Student Society, the Native American Law Students Association and Phi Alpha Delta hosted The Honorable Justice Murray Sinclair. He was Manitoba’s first Aboriginal Judge.8
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ALUMNI NOTES
Lawrence Jahnke, 1966retired as judge for the the Northeast Central Judicial District on March 15. He was appointed a district judge in May 1989 and won election in 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2014. Jahnke entered private legal practice in Grand Forks in 1986 after a 20-year career as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force.
1970sDonald Jorgensen, 1970was honored for the work he did addressing domestic violence and advocating for children. Jorgensen, who ended a three-decade career behind the bench in July, was presented with the Love Without Fear award from the Abused Adult Resource Center in Bismarck.
Michael Sturdevant, 1974announced his retirement as judge for the Northeast Judicial District effective Sept. 1. In a letter to Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Sturdevant wrote that it was his “pleasure and honor to serve in this essential position.” He was appointed to his judgeship in 2006 by Gov. John Hoeven and elected in 2008 and reelected in 2014.
Mark Larson, 1979has been certified as a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. He specializes in personal injury law, including car, truck and motorcycle accidents, oil rig accidents and railroad accidents.
1980sDonald Hager, 1986 was appointed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple to a judgeship in the Northeast Central Judicial District in January 2015. Hager has been self-employed since 1986, owning and operating Don Hager Law Office in Larimore, N.D. He worked as Larimore’s city attorney and prosecutor for 13 years, and city attorney for 15 municipalities and governmental subdivisions, including townships and rural water districts. He served as the indigent defense attorney for Grand Forks County and the City of Grand Forks, and in 2003, was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the Bank of North Dakota by Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
1960sJohn Marshall, 1962received the Department of the Air Force’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award. The retired Grand Forks attorney’s five-decade-long commitment was recognized at the ceremony. Specifically, the Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes Marshall’s three-year term as a member of the Air Force Civic Leader Program, a group of civilians that meets at least quarterly with senior Air Force brass to provide ideas and feedback on how the Air Force, its programs and Air Force communities can best serve each other.
Class of 1964Nine members of the University of North Dakota Law School class of 1964, their spouses and guests gathered to celebrate their 50-year reunion at Homecoming in October.
Photo back left: Richard Elwood, Phil Teigen, R. Jon Fitzner, Jay Mondry, Bill Sands. Front left: Wayne Westlund, John Dunn, Conrad Greicar, John Hovey.
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Cynthia Beyer, 1988 joined Spencer Fane Britt & Browne municipalities and local government group as of counsel in Denver. She has 25 years of legal experience that includes interpreting, drafting and negotiating government contracts and handling municipal government affairs and transactions.
1990sSusan Bailey, 1997was sworn in as East Central Judicial District judge by Gerald VandeWalle, Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court. She most recently served as an administrative law judge and a municipal judge in West Fargo, Horace, Tower City, Kindred and Davenport, N.D.
Tony Yip, 1997is an entrepreneur and the managing attorney of Business Law Center in Spokane, Washington.
2000sJon Huseby, 2001was appointed by Michael J. Davis, Chief U.S. District Judge to the position of Part-Time United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. He took the oath of office in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis on February 25, 2015. Since 2008, Huseby has worked at the firm of Fuller, Wallner, Cayko, Pederson & Huseby in Bemidji, where he was a partner, specializing in the areas of worker’s compensation, social security disability appeals, and personal injury.
Keven Kercher, 2002 joined the Ohnstad Twichell law firm as an associate attorney. Prior to joining Ohnstad Twichell he spent more than 10 years as a judge advocate general advising government officials, soldiers and their families on a wide range of legal issues and topics. Kercher will practice in Ohnstad Twichell’s West Fargo office and is licensed in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Kelly Armstrong, 2003 was elected chairman of North Dakota’s Republican party. He will serve a two-year term as he chairs the GOP’s executive committee. The position takes the lead for Republican messaging and candidate recruitment in the state.
Dr. Rhonda Schwartz retired after 27 years of service to the Thormodsgard Law Library and the UND School of Law.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Cincinnati, her library degree from the University of Pittsburgh, her law degree from UND School of Law, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Dakota.
Rhonda worked as a student at the UND law library while in law school, then as technical services librarian, reference librarian, and Head of Public Services. She then worked as the Assistant Director for 12 years before being named Interim Director in 2006 and was hired as Director and Assistant Professor of Law in 2008.
While serving as Director, she was promoted to Associate Professor and tenured as a law faculty member.
“It has been my great privilege and pleasure to work for and with the students, staff, and faculty of UND School of Law,” said Schwartz.
Rhonda and her husband, Charles Moretti (Associate Professor of Civil Engineering), are both retiring and will relocate to Northfield, Minnesota, a favorite and often-visited college town where their two sons attended college as undergraduates: Luke, St. Olaf College and Joel, Carleton College. Rhonda and Chuck will also summer at the shore in Ocean City, N.J.
Dr. Rhonda Schwartz Class of 1987
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ALUMNI NOTES
Alex Kelsch, 2012has been named volunteer of the year by the the Big Muddy Bar Association of Bismarck/Mandan. He was honored in part for performing 218 hours of pro bono work. Kelsch is an attorney in private practice with the firm of Kelsch, Kelsch, Ruff and Kranda in Mandan.
SeungMi Hong, 2013received the award of Volunteer of the Year 2015 as a Foreign National Category Winner. This is awarded for volunteer work done in 2014. She provided 980 hours of service working as a volunteer attorney at Client
Legal Services, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Eighth Army, United States Forces Korea.
Robert Haider, 2014was named executive director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. He most recently served as a staff assistant to the Dem-NPL House Caucus during the 2015 legislative session.
Aaron Kolquist, 2015was hired as an associate attorney at Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick in Duluth, Minnesota. He has worked as a law clerk over the past year at Fryberger. He plans to utilize his joint JD/MBA degree to practice business and corporate law.
Troy Morley, 2005has been named by South Dakota’s acting U.S. attorney as new tribal liaison to work with the state’s nine Indian tribes. He will serve as the conduit between his office and the reservations in the state. Morley joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2012 as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Pierre office. He is currently establishing a working group to study re-entry alternatives for offenders in the Dakotas and with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He will also be working on a re-entry project with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe.
Kelly Swenseth, 2005opened up a private practice in Devil’s Lake, N.D. Swenseth Law Office, PLLC provides property, trust and estate, and small business planning services, including the drafting of deeds, surface and mineral title opinions, residential and farm lease agreements, partnership operating agreements and other entity organization and management documents.
2010sAmanda Juelson, 2010has joined the Maple Grove law firm Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. as an associate in the Estate Planning Department. Juelson will focus her practice on estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration and elder law.
Jennifer Albaugh, 2012became an associate attorney with Severson, Wogsland, & Liebl, PC, in Fargo, N.D. She practices in the firm’s Family Law Division focusing on divorces, custody disputes, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships and other related matters.
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UND Law’s Newest AlumniCongratulations Class of 2015!
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The humor and artwork of retiring affiliated faculty member John Foster
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On the left, you will find a sample of the humor and artwork of retiring affiliated faculty member John Foster. This particular cartoon created by John appeared in September-October 1977 issue of the Radamanthus, the fall after he graduated from UND Law.
John is retiring after 35 years of teaching at the UND School of Law. Students and UND Law alumni who know him and especially who have taken a class from him will recognize John’s handiwork. His drawings and humor showed up in the intricate notes he made on the board during class and it was not unusual for Frankenstein or Dracula to show up on one of his exams. In fact, he published an article
titled Bankruptcy on the Blackboard in the North Dakota Law Review in 2005 which was a collection of graphic illustrations he used in teaching his Bankruptcy course. A sample of those drawings featured in the article is on the right.
A special reception honoring John’s career and his dedicated service to teaching the students of the School of Law will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2015 as part of the UND Law Homecoming schedule of events.
LOOKING BACK